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Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0030

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Transcription Tidworth and Ulster
the second by Captain Vere-Laurie. On these occasions it was
interesting to see the regimental flag flying in Eire and the
Officers Mess silver in use in the mess tent, The fact that after
one race Captain Kennard’s loose horse was only found in a
shed behind a low door after a long search perhaps indicates
that the natives were on the look out for a trophy too. Fittingly,
the Commanding Officer won the regimental point-to-point
raced for at the Strabane meeting in 1961. A well supported
hunter trial was held at Omagh on 14 Octoberi The course,
laid out and built by Captain Crossley, attracted 150 entries;
without any known trial gallop he won the Novice eventl
On 26 February 1962 an interesting letter was issued by the
so»called IRA Army Council, It stated that they were ceasing
active hostilities due to lack of public support and fantastic
odds against them: they particularly disliked the “armoured
vehicles supplied by the British Government”, Some pride was
taken by the Regiment in this statement. It became known early
in 1962 that the Regiment would end its tour in Ulster in
August and move to Aden to relieve the Queen’s Royal Irish
Hussars. It was, therefore, well timed that the Colonel—in»
Chief, accompanied by the Colonel of the Regiment, arrived
on 4 April to inspect the Regiment. It was an afternoon visit
and after the parade, during which Her Majesty presented the
Meritorious Service Medal to Major McKeever and the Long
Service and Good Conduct Medal to SSM Baldock and BSM
Price, she was entertained to tea by the Officers and their wives
Later as many members of the Regiment as possible were
presented In honour of Her Majesty a regimental cocktail
party was held at the Cavalry Club in June at which the Colonel
of the Regiment presented a regimental brooch to her on behalf
of the Regiment.
During the final months in Ulster Lt~Col Clark Kennedy
handed over command to Lt-Col Thomson-Glover. He had
had the testing task of making the amalgamation work and by
his dedication, example and fairness there was no doubt of his
success He applied to people that old saying about horses —
“Be to their faults a little blind: be to their Virtues ever kindi”
Having handed over to 2nd Royal Tank Regiment half the
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